Scientists of the NTI Center "Quantum Communications" of the National Research Technological University "MISIS" presented a quantum network node for mass use in Russian companies that want to protect themselves from information leaks. Portable development can also be used to create quantum computers and prototypes of quantum Internet devices. By the end of 2022, scientists hope to coordinate a new system with the FSB of Russia in order to obtain permission for its mass implementation in companies.
NUST MISIS demonstrated the work of the node of the domestic quantum network created by scientists of the NTI Center "Quantum Communications". Mass implementation of an innovative information security system based on it in Russian companies will be possible from 2022, said Igor Pavlov, Deputy Director of the NTI Center "Quantum Communications" of NUST MISIS.
So far, the node is being used to create demonstration quantum computers, including in research works in the field of quantum communications and photonics on the basis of universities, R&D centers and research and production associations. In fact, students of specialized areas study at it in laboratories.
"The node itself was developed in 2021, and has become a good foundation within the framework of our Priority 2030 program, according to which we want to develop not only photon-based communication tools, but also information processing complexes," Pavlov said. — In fact, other computing devices — the prototype of the quantum Internet — and sensor systems for the "quantum Internet of things" will be able to connect to the presented node in the future."
In particular, the laboratory "Superconducting Metamaterials" of NUST MISIS is working in this direction, where prototypes of quantum processors and microwave interfaces for their connection to a quantum network are being created.
The NUST MISIS node consists of two blocks connected by a fiber-optic communication line and implements a two-pass system in which the receiver generates sequences of laser pulses and sends them to the transmitter. At the output, the developers received a distributed random number generator.
A distinctive feature of the PAK is the flexibility of the configuration. Modularity makes it possible to modify optical circuits, change electronic components, study promising protocols and create interfaces for integrating quantum communications into other information systems.
"This is an important technical achievement from many points of view," explained Alexey Fedorov, head of the Quantum Information Technologies research group at the RCC. — With the help of quantum technologies, which are aimed at controlling individual quantum states, such as photons, it is possible to solve different problems. One of them is the creation of a quantum communications system or a quantum key distribution system for data encryption."
According to him, closed industrial devices of quantum communications are also being developed by other companies, however, for the full development of the direction, educational complexes and open platforms are required, allowing for the rapid introduction of such technologies.
"The scientists of the NTI Center presented, in fact, a portable quantum network unit that virtually any research and scientific organization can supply itself and use it to connect to an open interuniversity quantum network, testing algorithms, protocols — in general, for educational purposes," says Fedorov.
According to him, the technology is already of great interest to universities that want to develop this area in their own country, following the example of NUST MISIS and the Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics, between the buildings of which in October 2021 the first interuniversity quantum network with open access in Russia was officially launched.
In the long term, quantum networks will be used by large companies that dream of one hundred percent protection of their data. This may be of interest to developers of solutions not only in the field of quantum technologies, but also information or financial security. They could connect to the quantum network, which will become a kind of super-secure sandbox, and build their own secure communication networks, explains Igor Pavlov.
However, while this system remains a rather expensive "toy" for large companies that can afford it — the implementation will cost tens of millions of rubles. However, the innovative system will be able to protect not only from existing cyber threats, but also those that will arise in the next few years.
So, especially the Russian Railways is now interested in quantum networks, which has become the curator of the roadmap for the development of quantum communications. The company is going to build large networks for industrial operation. NUST MISIS scientists signed a contract with her in January 2021.
"Such super-secure systems will be useful for healthcare organizations, financial companies, and telecom operators — wherever it is necessary to keep information secret and avoid leaks," explains Pavlov.
However, in order to use the system in the banking or telecom sector, scientists need to obtain permits from the FSB of Russia. Now the developers are in close dialogue with the department, the system is being tested. Igor Pavlov expects that by the end of 2021 — the beginning of 2022, the technology will be given the go-ahead.
